Chapter 6,

"I got something," Moused yelled out towards the team. He rushed towards the front of the board and posted a picture of a bald man.

Halstead and Lindsay had returned almost thirty minutes early with the security camera from the gym. Obtaining the tape had been easy, the staff at the gym had been happy to assist the investigation in any way possible. They drove back in silence, and had been avoiding each other's gaze since.

"This is Marcus Paul, he's been suspected in the past for human trafficking. No one has been able to get any hard evidence to put him away, but there have been several investigations. He doesn't own any property in the area, but when I looked up his family members, I noticed a two million dollar property was purchased on Wabash Ave in his brother's name. But - get this… his brother has been in jail for 10 years."

"Suit up, let's go," Hank yelled out to everyone.

Everyone suited up quickly and set out to their cars. "Hey, wait a second," Hank called out to Erin as she approached her vehicle. "Can you handle this?" he asked her sternly. He knew she had a lot of personal stuff going on, but he needed Erin focused on the job at hand. Everyone was going home tonight.

"Yeah, Sarge. I got this. Let's get Nathan and bring him home." Erin said. She looked at Hank, her expression clearly asking for permission to get in the car and continue the mission with her team.

Hank nodded in agreement and turned towards Olinsky and his truck.

"Jay, here." Erin said, getting Jay's attention and handing him the keys to the car. "You drive."

"Why?" Jay said. He was sure she could handle herself, but her handing him the keys worried him. He wasn't sure where they stood in their relationship, but it didn't matter. He was protective of his partner, and he needed her to be safe and focused out there.

"I'm fine, Jay," Erin said, noticing his expression of worry. "I just… I wanted to show you that I trust you." Erin felt stupid. She never let Jay drive, and she was hoping this would be some sort of gesture.

"Oh, um… okay." Jay said and grabbed the keys from Erin.

They got in the car and drove in silence, sirens blaring, towards the house. When they approached the house, they turned the sirens off, not wanting to give themselves away.

The team gathered together outside the house. "What's the plan, Sarge?" Dawson said.

"Ruzek, Atwater - you take the back entrance. Olinsky and I will go in the front. Dawson, Halstead, I want you to take the side entrance. Lindsay, wait outside. Stand on the side of the house, make sure you have a visual of the front and backyards. If there's any movement, radio in and let us know." Hank ordered. "Get out the long guns everyone."

Erin knew that Hank was keeping her outside because he didn't want her going inside, and she resented it. But she also knew that someone had to monitor the windows and exits, and if she made a big deal about it, it would just solidify Hank's point that she was too personally involved. So instead of pushing, she let it go and got into position.

"Okay, let's move," Hank said to his team.

Erin watched from the outside as her team went into the house. There was no movement in either one of the yards. She watched patiently for a few minutes, when suddenly she heard gun shots.

She knew she shouldn't go in. Now more than ever, it was important to watch the outside. She had to make sure she knew if any offenders tried to leave the property. It took all of her self control not to move. She tried to convince herself that everything was fine, everyone was fine. There were no more gun shots, and another minute passed before the front door opened.

Erin watched as Ruzek and Atwater walked out the front doors. She started walking towards them and immediately noticed that they did not look upset or in a hurry. That's good. That's a good sign. She thought immediately.

"Ruzek, Atwater, what's going on?" She called out.

As they opened their mouths to answer, Jay walked out of the house, escorting out an offender handcuffed in front of him. Jay called out to Ruzek, and said "Call the ambulance for the other offender, but let them know he will be a DOA."

Erin continued to walk in their direction. She couldn't see Jay's body because it was being blocked by the offender, but Jay didn't look hurt, and no one was frantically looking for an ambulance. Thank god.

As Jay was speaking to Ruzek, Voight and Nathan Scott walked out of the front door of the house.

"Nate!" Erin shouted. She picked up speed and ran towards Nathan. "Oh my God, Nathan, thank god. We were so worried about you." She finally reached him, walking right past Jay, who was actually covered in blood, and threw her arms around him.

She just hugs everyone now, doesn't she? Jay thought bitterly. He realized right away that he wasn't being fair. Nathan had a black eye and looked disheveled, and of course Erin was going to be worried about him and relieved to have found him alive.

"Brooke, I'm fine." Nathan said, releasing her from the hug. "But shit, it's good to see you." He smiled down at her, tears in his eyes. "Is Haley okay?"

"Haley's fine, Nathan. She is at Erin's apartment. Erin and Jay will take you there now. Halstead, Lindsay, you're done for the day. We'll wait on the ambulance for the dead offender and get the paperwork done." Hank said.

"You sure, Sarge?" Jay said, not looking at Hank, his eyes still watching Erin and Nathan. Nathan currently had his arm slung over Erin, and Erin was leaning into Nathan with her eyes on Hank.

"Yes, go" Hank said, waving his hand dismissively. "I'll draw up a statement for you. You can sign it tomorrow."

"Thanks, Hank." Nathan said, reaching out to shake his hand. "Thank you all." He said turning to the rest of the team.

"Hey, any friend of Hank's and Erin's is a friend of ours. Glad you're safe man." Ruzek said, giving Nathan a sincere smile.

Nathan and Erin began walking towards the car, and Jay stood back watching them. Hank noticed Jay's hesitance, and walked over to join Jay.

"Halstead, get yourself cleaned up, and go with them. Go to Erin's apartment." Hank said. He knew that Erin hadn't told him everything, and that Jay was probably reeling with all of this new information. But he also knew that Jay was a good guy, and he would accept Erin for who she was.

"Sarge, I'm not sure she wants me there." Jay said. Erin and Nathan had stopped to talk to Olinsky on the way to the car.

"She wants you there. Trust me, Halstead. Go." Hank said, more sternly this time.

Jay walked over to where Erin and Nathan were standing, just as Olinsky was walking away.

"Hey, man." Nathan started, "Thanks for everything you did in there. Uh… if you hadn't cut in when you did…"

"It was nothing. I'm just glad you're okay," Jay said cutting him off.

"It's not nothing, I mean…" Nathan motioned towards Jay's bloodstained shirt.

"Jay, oh my god, are you okay?" Erin said, all of a sudden reaching out to Jay, touching his arms and shoulders, searching his body for any signs of bleeding. She had been so preoccupied with Nathan that she hadn't noticed Jay was completely covered in blood. I'm a terrible partner, she thought.

"Er, I'm fine." Jay said quickly, touched by her concern. "It's not my blood, I'm not hurt." Jay had been hurt when Erin didn't acknowledge him before, and had run straight to Nathan. He understood, he definitely understood, but at the same time, it bothered him. They were partners, and they always had each others backs. She always made sure he was okay, that had always been her first priority. Until today, he thought.

"So you're Jay?" Nathan said, interrupting Erin and Jay. Erin took a step back and released Jay's arms, and looked at Nathan. She knew he was going to say something to get her in trouble, but she was willing to give him a pass today.

"Uhh… yeah, I'm Jay." Jay said awkwardly, shifting his attention from Erin to Nathan. "Sorry, I didn't get a chance to introduce myself before." He reached out to shake Nathan's hand.

Nathan took his hand and shook it, and then patted Jay on the back. "I have heard a ton about you. Mostly from my wife, of course, but according to her, Brooke can't shut up about you." At this, Jay looked at Erin, sending her a smirk and raising his eyebrow at her.

"We were both really looking forward to finally meeting you this weekend," Nathan continued.

Jay's attention shifted back from Erin to Nathan at that. "This weekend?" Jay asked, confused.

"Let's get you home, Nate." Erin said, cutting this conversation off before it could continue.

Jay and Erin stood on opposites sides of the car near their respective seats, as Nathan sat in the back seat.

"Wait, Jay." Erin said, just as Jay was about to lean down and get into his seat. Erin walked over to Jay's side of the car and reached out to squeeze his hand. "I know this is a lot to take in. And I know you probably want to just drop us off at my apartment, go home, take a hot shower, and wash off this whole day. But, if you are up for it, I would love it if you would come meet my friends."

Jay leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, slowly backing away and staring deeply into her eyes. "I would love to."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)